ENFORCEMENT DECREE OF THE ACT ON THE PREVENTION OF SUICIDE AND THE CREATION OF CULTURE OF RESPECT FOR LIFE

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters mandated by the Act on the Prevention of Suicide and the Creation of Culture of Respect for Life and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof.

Article 2(Submission of annual implementation plan) #

Pursuant to Article 8 (2) of the Act on the Prevention of Suicide and the Creation of Culture of Respect for Life (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), the heads of relevant central administrative agencies and the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, Metropolitan City Mayors, Do Governors, and the Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor/Do Governor") shall formulate a suicide prevention implementation plan for the following year (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") and submit it to the Minister of Health and Welfare by December 31 each year; provided, the Minister of Health and Welfare may extend the submission deadline for the implementation plan within a period not exceeding 1 month if deemed necessary for the collection of data required for formulating the implementation plan. <Amended on Jul. 11, 2024>

Article 3(Procedures for evaluating execution results) #

(1) Pursuant to Article 8 (2) of the Act, the heads of relevant central administrative agencies and Mayors/Do Governors shall prepare a report on the results of executing the implementation plan for the previous year pursuant to Article 8 (2) of the Act and submit it to the Minister of Health and Welfare by the end of February each year.

(2) The Minister of Health and Welfare shall notify the heads of relevant central administrative agencies and Mayors/Do Governors of the results of evaluating the execution results finalized pursuant to Article 8 (2) of the Act by June 30 each year. <Amended on Jun. 11, 2019>

(3) The head of a relevant central administrative agency and Mayors/Do Governors shall reflect the results of evaluation notified pursuant to paragraph (2) in the implementation plan for the following year. <Amended on Jun. 11, 2019>

Article 4(Composition and operation of Suicide Prevention Policy Committee) #

(1) “Heads of relevant central administrative agencies prescribed by Presidential Decree” in Article 10-2 (4) 1 of the Act means the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Education, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Minister of Health and Welfare, the Minister of Employment and Labor, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, the Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Chairperson of the Korea Media and Communications Commission, the Minister of Data and Statistics, the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, and the Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>

(2) The Prime Minister shall commission up to 12 members referred to in Article 10-2 (4) 2 of the Act in consideration of gender. The term of office of members shall be 2 years.

(3) If a member under Article 10-2 (4) 2 of the Act falls under any of the following cases, the chairperson of the Suicide Prevention Policy Committee under Article 10-2 (1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") may dismiss the relevant member:

1. Where he or she becomes unable to perform his or her duties due to a mental or physical disability;

2. Where the member commits misconduct in connection with his or her duties;

3. Where he or she voluntarily indicates that it is impracticable to perform his or her duties;

4. Where he or she is deemed unfit as a member due to delinquency of duties, injury to dignity, or any other reason.

(4) Where the chairperson of the Committee is unable to perform his or her duties due to any unavoidable cause, the Minister of Health and Welfare shall act on his or her behalf.

(5) A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and any resolution thereof shall require the concurring vote of a majority of those present.

(6) The chairperson of the Committee may request the heads of central administrative agencies and the heads of local governments related to the agenda items submitted to the Committee to attend a meeting of the Committee and make a statement or report thereon.

(7) The Committee shall have 1 executive secretary, and the head of the Health and Medical Service Policy Office of the Ministry of Health and Welfare shall be the executive secretary.

Article 5(Composition and operation of suicide prevention policy working committee) #

(1) The working committee under Article 10-2 (6) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as the "working committee") shall examine the following matters:

1. Matters regarding agenda items to be deliberated upon by the Committee;

2. Matters on which the working committee is requested by the Committee to deliberate.

(2) The working committee shall be composed of up to 25 members, including 1 chairperson.

(3) The chairperson of the working committee shall be the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, and members of the working committee shall be appointed or commissioned by the chairperson of the working committee from among the following persons:

1. Any of the following public officials of a central administrative agency under Article 4 (1), who are designated by the head of the relevant agency;

(a) Public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service;

(b) Public officials of Grades I through III who do not belong to the Senior Executive Service;

2. Persons with extensive knowledge of and experience in suicide prevention.

(4) A majority of the members of the working committee shall constitute a quorum, and any resolution thereof shall require the concurring vote of a majority of those present.

(5) The chairperson of the working committee may request public officials belonging to central administrative agencies and local governments related to the agenda items submitted to the working committee and relevant experts to attend a meeting of the working committee and to make a statement or submit materials.

(6) The working committee shall have 1 executive secretary, who shall be a director-level public official of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in charge of suicide prevention affairs.

[This Article Added on Jun. 11, 2019]

[Previous Article 5 moved to Article 8 <Jun. 11, 2019>]

Article 6(Implementation of fact-finding surveys on suicide) #

(1) Pursuant to Article 11 (1) of the Act, the Minister of Health and Welfare shall conduct a nationwide fact-finding survey on suicide, and the Mayor/Do Governor shall conduct a fact-finding survey on suicide in the area under his or her jurisdiction, if necessary.

(2) The Minister of Health and Welfare shall announce the results of a fact-finding survey on suicide by posting them on the website, etc. of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Jun. 11, 2019>

(3) If it is necessary to conduct an additional survey due to an increase in the suicide rate, etc., the Minister of Health and Welfare and the Mayor/Do Governor may conduct ad hoc surveys on all or part of the matters referred to in the subparagraphs of Article 11 (2) of the Act and supplement the fact-finding survey on suicide under paragraph (1). <Amended on Jun. 11, 2019>

(4) If necessary to ascertain the causes, etc. of suicide attempts, the Minister of Health and Welfare and a Mayor/Do Governor may conduct a fact-finding survey on suicide of a person who attempted suicide and his or her family members or the bereaved family members of a person who died by suicide (hereinafter referred to as "person who attempted suicide, etc.") in addition to a fact-finding survey on suicide under paragraphs (1) and (3). In such cases, the Minister of Health and Welfare and the Mayor/Do Governor shall obtain prior consent from the person who attempted suicide, etc. <Amended on Jun. 11, 2019>

(5) The Minister of Health and Welfare and the Mayor/Do Governor shall not use the data collected in connection with a fact-finding survey on suicide for any purpose other than the intended purpose.

[Moved from Article 4; previous Article 6 moved to Article 9 <Jun. 11, 2019>]

Article 7(Procedures and methods for follow-up management of person who attempted suicide) #

(1) If a person falling under any subparagraph of Article 12-2 (1) of the Act becomes aware of a person who attempted suicide, etc. in the course of performing his or her duties, he or she shall, without delay, provide a person who attempted suicide, etc. with the contact information and address of a suicide prevention center under Article 13 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "suicide prevention center") and a mental health welfare center under subparagraph 3 of Article 3 of the Act on the Improvement of Mental Health and the Support for Welfare Services for Mental Patients and information on the details of support provided by the relevant center within his or her jurisdiction. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>

(2) A person falling under any subparagraph of Article 12-2 (1) of the Act shall provide a person who attempted suicide, etc. with the information under paragraph (1) in writing, by electronic mail, by mobile phone text message, etc.

(3) "Institutions prescribed by Presidential Decree, which perform suicide prevention affairs" in Article 12-2 (2) 3 of the Act means institutions deemed necessary by the Minister of Health and Welfare to be provided with information on a person who attempted suicide, etc., such as the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention under Article 12-4 (1) of the Act. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>

(4) Deleted. <Aug. 2, 2022>

(5) A person who is obligated to provide information pursuant to Article 12-2 (2) of the Act and the latter part of paragraph (3) of that Article shall transmit information under paragraph (4) of that Article in writing or by electronic means such as electronic recording devices and the interlink of information systems between institutions. <Amended Aug. 2. 2022>

(6) Deleted. <Aug. 2, 2022>

(7) The heads of the institutions referred to in the subparagraphs of Article 12-2 (2) of the Act shall report the details of support under paragraph (6) of that Article to the Minister of Health and Welfare by January 31 of the following year. <Amended on Aug. 2, 2022>

(8) If the head of the institutions referred to in the subparagraphs of Article 12-2 (2) of the Act designates or changes a person in charge pursuant to paragraph (7) of that Article, he or she shall notify the person who attempted suicide, etc. for whom a person in charge is designated or changed of such fact without delay. <Amended on Aug. 2, 2022>

(9) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (8), matters necessary for the follow-up management of a person who attempted suicide, etc. shall be determined by the Minister of Health and Welfare. <Added on Aug. 2, 2022>

Article 7-2(Establishment and operation of Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention) #

(1) The articles of incorporation of the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention (hereinafter referred to as the "Foundation") established under Article 12-4 (1) of the Act shall include the following matters:

1. Purpose;

2. Name;

3. Location of the main office;

4. Matters regarding the scope, details, and execution of business;

5. Matters regarding the term of office of executive officers and the appointment and dismissal of executive officers and employees;

6. Matters regarding the composition and operation of the board of directors;

7. Matters regarding property and accounting;

8. Matters regarding budget and settlement of accounts;

9. Matters regarding amendments to articles of incorporation;

10. Matters regarding the enactment, amendment, and repeal of internal regulations of the Foundation;

11. Other important matters regarding the operation of the Foundation.

(2) The Foundation shall have a board of directors to deliberate and resolve on the following matters:

1. Matters regarding business plans, budget, and settlement of accounts;

2. Matters regarding amendments to articles of incorporation;

3. Matters regarding the acquisition and disposal of fundamental property;

4. Matters regarding the enactment and amendment of major regulations related to organizational status, personnel affairs, remuneration, service, accounting, etc.;

5. Matters requiring deliberation and resolution by the board of directors under statutes or regulations or the articles of incorporation;

6. Matters referred to the board of directors for deliberation and resolution, as deemed necessary by the chairperson;

7. Other important matters regarding the operation of the Foundation, which are deemed necessary by the board of directors.

(3) The board of directors of the Foundation shall be comprised of directors including the chairperson, and the auditor may attend and make a statement at meetings of the board of directors.

Article 8(Entrustment of establishment and operation of suicide prevention center) #

(1) Pursuant to Article 13 (3) of the Act, a Mayor/Do Governor and the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (referring to the head of an autonomous Gu; hereinafter the same shall apply) may entrust the establishment and operation of a suicide prevention center to any of the following private institutions or organizations: <Amended on May 29, 2017; Dec. 9, 2022>

1. A mental health improvement facility under subparagraph 4 of Article 3 of the Act on the Improvement of Mental Health and the Support for Welfare Services for Mental Patients;

2. A school defined in Article 2 of the Higher Education Act;

3. A social welfare foundation established pursuant to Article 16 (1) of the Social Welfare Services Act;

4. Other non-profit corporations or organizations equipped with specialized human resources and capabilities for preventing suicide.

(2) In entrusting business affairs pursuant to paragraph (1), the expertise, human resources, facilities, etc. of the relevant private institutions and organizations shall be taken into consideration.

(3) If a Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu intends to entrust business affairs pursuant to Article 13 (3) of the Act, he or she shall give a prior public announcement of the standards, procedures, methods, etc. for entrustment on a bulletin board or the website of the entrusting agency. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>

(4) If a Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu entrusts business affairs pursuant to Article 13 (3) of the Act, he or she shall publicly announce the name of the entrusted institution, organization, etc. and the details of the entrusted business affairs on a bulletin board or the website of the entrusting institution. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>

[Moved from Article 5; previous Article 8 moved to Article 11 <Jun. 11, 2019>]

Article 9(Installation and operation of emergency telephone lines) #

(1) The Minister of Health and Welfare shall install suicide prevention emergency telephone lines under Article 13 (4) of the Act with dedicated lines and operate the suicide prevention emergency telephone lines with a nationwide unified number around the clock.

(2) If the head of a relevant central administrative agency or a Mayor/Do Governor installs suicide prevention emergency telephone lines, he or she shall ensure that they are linked to the suicide prevention emergency telephone lines under paragraph (1).

(3) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), matters necessary for the installation and operation of suicide prevention emergency telephone lines shall be determined by the Minister of Health and Welfare.

[Moved from Article 6 <Jun. 11, 2019>]

Article 10(Institutions providing suicide-prevention counseling and education) #

(1) "Public Institutions prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 17 (1) 1 of the Act means the following institutions:

1. A public institution under Article 4 (1) of the Act on the Management of Public Institutions;

2. A local government-invested public corporation or local public agency established pursuant to Article 49 (1) and 76 (1) of the Local Public Enterprises Act.

(2) “Institutions or organizations prescribed by Presidential Decree” in Article 17 (1) 5 of the Act means hospital-level medical institutions under Article 3 (2) 3 of the Medical Service Act. <Amended on Jul. 11, 2024>

(3) “Institutions, organizations, and facilities prescribed by Presidential Decree” in Article 17 (2) of the Act means the following institutions or organizations: <Added on Jul. 11, 2024>

1. A place of business with at least 30 full-time employees;

2. An alternative education institution defined in Article 2 (2) of the Act on Alternative Education Institutions;

3. Any other institution or organization determined by the Minister of Health and Welfare, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu as needing suicide-prevention education.

(4) “Persons prescribed by Presidential Decree” in Article 17 (4) 5 of the Act means the following persons: <Added on Jun. 11, 2019; Jul. 11, 2024>

1. Workers engaged in care services for senior citizens living alone under Article 27-2 (1) of the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act;

2. Members of a regional social security consultative body under Article 41 (1) of the Act on the Use and Provision of Social Security Benefits and Search for Eligible Beneficiaries and an integrated case manager under Article 42-2 (2) of that Act;

3. Employees of youth counseling and welfare centers under Article 29 (1) of the Youth Welfare Support Act;

4. Employees of dementia care centers under Article 17 (1) of the Dementia Management Act.

[Moved from Article 7 <Jun. 11, 2019>]

Article 10-2(Contents and methods of suicide-prevention counseling and education) #

(1) The contents of suicide-prevention education under Article 17 (1) and (2) of the Act and of suicide-prevention counseling under Article 17 (3) of the Act shall be as follows:

1.The following matters related to raising awareness on suicide prevention:

(a) The preciousness and value of life;

(b) Understanding and caring for oneself and matters regarding seeking help;

2. The following matters related to gatekeeper training:

(a) Suicide Issues and current status;

(b) Suicide risk factors and warning signs;

(d) Other matters necessary for preventing and responding to suicide crises.

(2) Suicide-prevention education under Article 17(1) of the Act shall be conducted at least once a year; provided, the principal of a school defined in Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act may provide suicide-prevention education in connection with and integrated into the school’s curriculum.

(3) Suicide-prevention education under Article 17 (1) and (2) of the Act and suicide-prevention counseling under Article 17 (3) of the Act shall be conducted in the following ways:

1. Suicide-prevention education: Through in-person group training, audiovisual training, or online training; provided, the head of an institution, organization, or facility determined by the Minister of Health and Welfare to be excellent in suicide-prevention education, taking into account the performance of such education, may conduct the following year’s education by posting or distributing educational or promotional materials within the institution, organization, or facility;

2. Suicide-prevention counseling: Through telephone counseling, online counseling, or one-on-one interviews.

(4) The head of an institution, organization, or facility that intends to submit the results of suicide-prevention education conducted under Article 17 (1) of the Act shall submit such results to the Minister of Health and Welfare or the head of the competent ministry by January 31 of the following year.

Article 10-3(Development and dissemination of suicide-prevention counseling and education programs) #

(1) Under Article 17 (5) of the Act, the Minister of Health and Welfare, the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, and the Mayor/Do Governor shall develop programs necessary for suicide-prevention counseling and education (hereafter in this Article referred to as "counseling and education programs") and disseminate them to the institutions, organizations, and facilities under Article 17 (1) and (2) of the Act and to the institutions, organizations, and facilities to which the persons under Article 17 (4) of the Act belong.

(2) The Minister of Health and Welfare, the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, and the Mayor/Do Governor may request support necessary for the development and dissemination of counseling and education programs under paragraph (1) from the following institutions, organizations, and facilities:

1. The Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention under Article 12-4 of the Act;

2. A suicide-prevention center under Article 13 (1) of the Act;

3. A mental health welfare center under Article 3 (3) of the Act on the Improvement of Mental Health and the Support for Welfare Services for Mental Patients;

4. Any other institution, organization, or facility recognized by the Minister of Health and Welfare as having the capability to perform support duties related to suicide-prevention counseling and education.

(3) The Minister of Health and Welfare may support the heads of relevant central administrative agencies and the Mayor/Do Governor in the development and dissemination of counseling and education programs.

(4) To promote the development and dissemination of counseling and education programs, the Minister of Health and Welfare may select excellent counseling and education programs and publicize them.

[This Article Added on Jul. 11, 2024]

Article 11(Request for provision of information to rescue people in need of emergency rescue) #

(1) Upon receipt of a request for the provision of personal information pursuant to Article 19-3 (1) of the Act, the head of a police agency, coast guard agency, or fire-fighting agency (hereinafter referred to as "emergency rescue agency") shall record and retain the matters referred to in the subparagraphs of that paragraph in the management ledger in the attached Form pursuant to paragraph (7) of that Article.

(2) An emergency rescue agency shall destroy the relevant personal information after the lapse of 3 months from the date personal information is provided upon request under Article 19-3 (1) of the Act.

(3) If the Minister of Health and Welfare intends to request the provision of statistical data pursuant to Article 19-3 (9) of the Act, he or she shall make a written request, specifying the purpose, scope, method of submission, etc. of the use of statistical data.

[This Article Added on Jul. 9, 2019]

[Previous Article 11 moved to Article 14 <Jul. 9, 2019>]

Article 12(Scope of persons obligated to designate persons in charge of providing materials) #

(1) "Person who meets the standards prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 19-4 (1) of the Act means a person who falls under subparagraph 1 of Article 25 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

(2) A person who intends to file a report pursuant to Article 19-4 (1) of the Act shall submit a report on designation of a person in charge of providing materials prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare to the Minister of Health and Welfare.

(3) Upon receipt of a report under paragraph (2), the Minister of Health and Welfare shall notify an emergency rescue agency of the details of the report without delay.

[This Article Added on Jul. 9, 2019]

Article 13(Support for bereaved family members of person who died by suicide) #

(1) If the State or a local government intends to apply for support for the bereaved family members of a person who died by suicide ex officio pursuant to the former part of Article 20 (4) of the Act, it shall explain the criteria for selecting persons eligible to receive support, measures and procedures for support, etc. to persons eligible to receive support in an easily understandable manner.

(2) If the State or a local government intends to obtain consent from a person eligible to receive support pursuant to the latter part of Article 20 (4) of the Act, it shall explain the details necessary for consent to the person eligible to receive support orally, by telephone, or in writing, and shall record his or her expression of consent or obtain consent in writing.

[This Article Added on Jul. 9, 2019]

Article 14(Processing sensitive information and personally identifiable information) #

(1) The State and a local government (where the relevant authority is delegated or entrusted, including persons to whom the relevant authority is delegated or entrusted) may process data containing information on health under Article 23 of the Personal Information Protection Act and resident registration numbers or alien registration numbers under subparagraph 1 or 4 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of that Act, if it is inevitable for performing the following business affairs:

1. Business affairs regarding fact-finding surveys on suicide under Article 11 of the Act;

2. Business affairs regarding the installation and operation of emergency telephone lines under Article 13 (4) of the Act;

3. Deleted; <Dec. 20, 2022>

4. Business affairs regarding support for a person who attempted suicide, etc. under Article 20 of the Act.

(2) If it is inevitable for performing the business affairs under Article 12-4 (2) 3 through 6 of the Act, the Foundation may process information on health under Article 23 of the Personal Information Protection Act. <Amended on Dec. 9, 2022>

(3) If it is inevitable for performing the business affairs under Article 13 (1) 1 through 4 of the Act, a suicide prevention center may process data containing information on health under Article 23 of the Personal Information Protection Act and resident registration numbers or alien registration numbers under subparagraph 1 or 4 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of that Act. <Added on Dec. 9, 2022>

[This Article Added on Aug. 6, 2014]

[Moved from Article 11 <Jul. 9, 2019>]

Article 15(Criteria for imposing administrative fines) #

The criteria for imposing administrative fines under Article 26 (1) and (2) of the Act shall be as specified in the Appendix.

[This Article Added on Aug. 2, 2022]

Article 16(Re-examination of regulation) #

With respect to suicide-prevention education under Article 17 (1) of the Act, the Minister of Health and Welfare shall review its validity every 3 years as of January 1, 2025 (referring to the period that ends on the day before the base date of every third year) and take necessary measures such as improvements.

[This Article Added on Jul. 11, 2024]